Articles by Lauren Dunec Design

Many of us aren’t able to change the sizes and layouts of our patios or decks. We’re left to choose furniture and its arrangement, decide what to plant, and select other outdoor elements to make the space our own.Dreaming of lounging outdoors? Whether…

Designed for easy indoor-outdoor flow, this waterfront backyard in Naples, Florida, showcases the best elements of outdoor living. Doors from the home open straight onto a new outdoor entertaining area, which includes a dining table under an elegant w…

If you’re lucky enough to have an outdoor pool, chances are that you’ll want a shady spot to relax in postdip or while enjoying views of the pool. While an umbrella placed over a lounge chair will do the trick, a pergola can create a shaded retreat la…

It’s easy to overlook the side yard, or move it down the priority list, in a landscape renovation. Though extra-tight side yards may have room for a path and not much more, slightly wider spaces can become a destination in their own right with the add…

It’s easy to overlook the side yard, or move it down the priority list, in a landscape renovation. Though extra-tight side yards may have room for a path and not much more, slightly wider spaces can become a destination in their own right with the add…

To add a spot of shade in your backyard, all you really need to do is open up a big umbrella. But with today’s options for shade sails, screens and trellises, we’ve come to expect our shade structures not only to shade the backyard but also to serve a…

Privacy is often a top priority with outdoor showers, pools and hot tubs. A solid screen, fence or dense hedge can completely block off the element from adjacent areas or spaces within the larger landscape. If total concealment isn’t needed, a semitra…

A freestanding wall with an artistic cutout serves as a focal point in this newly renovated backyard just outside of downtown Toronto. The wall not only serves as a stunning design feature but gracefully separates two patios: one used for cooking and …

This Trending Now story features the most-saved patio and deck photos uploaded to Houzz since April 1, 2019. With wraparound seating, stunning fire features, creative shade solutions and soft lighting after dark, these outdoor living spaces have many …

This Trending Now story features the most-saved pool photos uploaded to Houzz since April 1, 2019. To kick off summer, we rounded up the most popular pool photos uploaded to Houzz in the past three months. But none of the designs are — dare we say it?…